"We were interested to know whether intense environmental demands such as musical training at an early age influenced actual brain growth and development," Dr Schlaug said.

Fifteen male musicians and 15 age and gender matched non-musicians were included in the study at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Using a magnetic resonance imaging sequence, they compared high resolution anatomical datasets of the professional musicians' and non-musicians' brains.

The musicians had more relative grey matter volume in the left and right primary sensorimotor regions, with pronounced differences also seen in the cerebellum bilaterally.

Results of the study may indicate use dependent brain growth occurs in response to mental demands such as musical training during a critical period of brain maturation.

"An alternative explanation may be that these musicians were born with these differences, which may draw them toward their musical gifts," Dr Schlaug said.

Dr Schlaug is continuing this research to identify areas of the brain that are different and to determine if training and experience can create the difference.

"Musicians typically commence training at an early age, making them ideal subjects for this type of inverstigation," he said.